The Abused Novel Heroine Became a Clingy Sweetheart [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 53
That night, a torrential downpour fell over the capital.
Rain struck the banana leaves, dripping loudly until dawn.
Some were recruiting troops, others slept in each other’s arms.
And there was one person who watched the flame in the alchemy furnace all night long.
Emperor Ning Jing coughed a few times and asked, “Is it not ready yet?”
The alchemist busy by the furnace hastily and respectfully replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, it will be ready soon!”
Not long after, tendrils of smoke rose from the alchemy furnace, and the alchemist excitedly laughed, “It’s done! It’s done!”
Emperor Ning Jing’s eyes also showed a flicker of emotion.
The court eunuch respectfully presented the two pitch-black pills taken from the furnace to Emperor Ning Jing with both hands.
Emperor Ning Jing reached out and took them.
The pills were still scorching hot, but he paid it no mind, swallowing them directly.
He closed his eyes, a look of satisfaction on his face, savoring the feeling.
Emperor Ning Jing waved his hand, “All of you, withdraw.”
Everyone responded in unison and left.
Emperor Ning Jing was the only one left in the bedchamber.
He leaned back in his chair, his expression filled with a sense of nostalgia and attachment that others couldn’t understand.
The pills brought a feeling of ethereal bliss, and his thoughts also became distant.
It was as if he had traveled through the long river of time and met the person he longed for day and night.
He still remembered that the woman had a beautiful name, Yi Song.
In the language of the Wujin Kingdom, it meant ‘Moon’.
The first time he saw Yi Song, Emperor Ning Jing knew that she was the person he desired.
No matter what method he had to use, he must pluck that moon from the heavens and take her into his embrace.
Later, he did bring Yi Song back to the palace, changed her name, and kept her confined by his side.
Emperor Ning Jing thought he had never loved anyone so deeply in his entire life.
Loved her so much… that he could even tolerate the child in her belly not being his.
But why did Yi Song always ignore his advances?
He expressed his tender affection to her, but she only looked at him with cold eyes.
In a stiff tone, she said, “In our Wujin Kingdom, a man only has one wife. The way you say you love me, in my opinion, is simply disgusting.”
Emperor Ning Jing could not understand.
He loved Yi Song, but he was the Emperor.
Since ancient times, it was commonplace for an emperor to have a large harem.
Moreover, most of the women in this harem were brought in to balance political power in the court.
“My entire heart is given to you,” Emperor Ning Jing frowned, “Is that not enough?”
The woman’s alluring eyes showed a look of mockery, and she said coldly, “I find it dirty.”
As the Son of Heaven, Emperor Ning Jing had never groveled before anyone like this.
But his tolerance was met with the other party’s disgust and ridicule, and the phrase ‘I find it dirty’ severely wounded Emperor Ning Jing’s heart.
Anger rushed to his head; his eyes turned bloodshot as he completely defiled the moon that was once pure and spotless.
After that, no matter how much Emperor Ning Jing tried to please her, Yi Song never spoke another word to him.
The only exception was concerning the newborn infant.
Most of the time, the woman left Emperor Ning Jing with a stubborn and silent back.
She gazed towards the North, the direction of the Wujin Kingdom.
Emperor Ning Jing sat beside her, guessing what she was thinking at that time?
Was she reminiscing about the old country’s homeland, or was she missing… the husband who personally handed her over to him?
Emperor Ning Jing did not know.
He only knew that in her thoughts, there was no place for him.
The woman was physically unwell but refused to take medicine, allowing herself to wither and decline day by day, like a flower slowly fading.
Emperor Ning Jing knew clearly that this was Yi Song’s revenge against him.
She wanted to use death to completely escape him.
There was a rumor in the Wujin Kingdom that the souls of travelers who died in a foreign land would eventually drift back to the Wujin Kingdom.
Thus, after Yi Song’s death, Emperor Ning Jing went mad, searching the entire country for alchemists and sorcerers.
He wanted to imprison her soul.
He wanted to see her face one more time.
What was his fault? He merely loved her too much.
Was loving someone also an unforgivable sin?
For so many years, only by relying on these pills could Emperor Ning Jing, in his hazy thoughts, see that longed-for face again.
His body was gradually weakening, but Emperor Ning Jing ignored it completely.
All his emotions were focused on one person, and with her death, his heart seemed to have slowly lost the motivation to beat.
He didn’t care about any princes or princesses.
Emperor Ning Jing closed his eyes and thought, if he could reunite with Yi Song after death, how fortunate that would be.
His thoughts slowly sank, and a line of turbid tears flowed from the corner of his eye.
After the Palace Examination ended, Song Yaozi and the others officially received their government posts and were to enter the court as officials.
On the first day of court attendance, Grand Tutor Song personally helped Song Yaozi arrange her attire.
The vermilion official robes worn by Song Yaozi highlighted a sense of vitality in her features.
Grand Tutor Song stood by the door, watching her walk step by step towards the carriage heading for the palace.
Only when the carriage’s shadow disappeared from his sight did Grand Tutor Song suddenly start coughing.
He coughed severely, as if he might run out of breath at any moment.
A servant quickly stepped forward to support him, urging him to go back and rest.
Grand Tutor Song waved his hand, “I’m fine.”
“I still have one thing to do. Prepare some gifts; we are going to Princess Shun’an’s residence.”
You Ting’s princess residence had been completed; she had moved in after the Palace Examination, and it wasn’t far from the Grand Tutor’s residence.
Besides these female candidates, Emperor Ning Jing surprisingly found other official posts for He Changsi and You Ting, who served as deputy supervisors in this Imperial Examination.
Everyone could see that Emperor Ning Jing intended to promote this Princess and fully establish the policy of women serving as officials.
No emperor is without ambition.
The previous emperor established the law allowing women to study and take examinations, and Emperor Ning Jing saw the feasibility of this policy.
He wanted to find an opportune moment to vigorously promote it.
Besides the civil examination, he was also preparing to establish an Imperial Military Examination for women.
And now, with the first female Zhuangyuan (top scholar) in the court, it was the most suitable time.
A hundred years later, he would surely leave a significant mark in the history books.
So, You Ting had been very busy during this time.
She had to deal with some matters in court and discuss the details of the women’s military examination with the Princess of Dingxi Commandery.
In just these few days, she was already so tired that all she wanted to do was lie down and rest after returning to the princess residence.
You Ting suddenly felt that the Imperial Throne, superior to all others, was not that comfortable to sit on.
She wondered why people like He Zhige fought so desperately for it.
She could roughly guess Emperor Ning Jing’s intentions; the reason he was so eager to elevate her status.
Perhaps it was because his time was running out.
Besides her, He Zhige and the others should also be able to guess.
You Ting lowered her eyes and gently blew on the clear tea in front of her cup.
Watching the gradually dissipating steam, she thought that perhaps the great changes in the Imperial City would come sooner than she had imagined.
Just as she was pondering, Qing Su suddenly rushed in: “Your Highness, someone is asking for an audience!”
You Ting wearily rubbed her head, “I won’t see anyone, make an excuse to send them away.”
“But,” Qing Su said with difficulty, “That person is Grand Tutor Song.”
You Ting’s fingers paused.
She thought for a moment and said, “Please invite the Grand Tutor in and brew a fresh pot of tea.”
Not long after, Qing Su led the person to You Ting.
Grand Tutor Song bowed slightly: “This old official pays respects to Her Highness the Princess.”
You Ting quickly raised her hand and personally stepped forward to help Grand Tutor Song into a seat.
“Grand Tutor is a meritorious official of the state; I am merely a junior. There is no need for such formality.”
You Ting sat down and asked Grand Tutor Song, “Is there something you need from me, Grand Tutor?”
Looking closely, Grand Tutor Song’s complexion seemed much worse than during the Imperial Examination.
Grand Tutor Song couldn’t help but cough a few times before saying apologetically, “Allowing Her Highness to see this poor state, you can see the condition of this old official’s health.”
You Ting frowned slightly: “Is your illness serious, Grand Tutor? Have you seen the Imperial Physicians? What kind of medicine do you need? I will have someone find it.”
Grand Tutor Song smiled, his face showing a detachment towards life and death, “Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but this old official no longer needs it.”
For someone terminally ill, expensive medicinal herbs would only be a waste.
He shook his head helplessly, “Before this old official passes away, there is just one matter I wish to entrust to Your Highness.”
You Ting’s expression became serious: “Please speak, Grand Tutor. If it is within my capability, I will certainly do it.”
Grand Tutor Song looked straight into You Ting’s eyes, seemingly examining her carefully.
After a moment, he smiled: “It is nothing major; I only hope that in the future, Your Highness can look after this old official’s granddaughter in court.”
You Ting was stunned.
Grand Tutor Song continued, “Yaozi was raised by me since childhood, and I know her character best.”
“She appears delicate on the outside but is extremely resilient on the inside. Once she sets her mind on something, she will never turn back. With such a temperament, without this old official, she will likely face many hardships in the officialdom.”
“Therefore,” he looked earnestly at You Ting, “This official only asks that Your Highness, in the future, if Yaozi gets into trouble, would speak a few words on her behalf.”
As he spoke, he was about to kneel down, lifting his robes, but You Ting quickly stepped forward and held him up.
At this moment, the person in front of her no longer seemed like the head of the civil officials, the Grand Tutor who ranked among the Three Dukes.
He was a frail old man making final arrangements for his granddaughter.
“Rest assured, Grand Tutor.”
You Ting said seriously, “The friendship between Miss Song and me is incomparable. Should the day ever come when others abandon her, I will absolutely not forsake her.”
Having received You Ting’s assurance, Grand Tutor Song finally laughed heartily in thanks and left with staggering steps.
The rain was frequent this season, lingering endlessly.
Not long after, Qing Su returned with a somber expression to report.
“Your Highness, Grand Tutor Song… has passed away…”
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